Short answer
Yes. A woman's prayer is valid anywhere clean, and when she is out at prayer time she must pray rather than let it pass. Choose the most private spot available, such as a prayer room, a fitting room, a quiet corner or your car, and make sure your clothing covers you fully in ruku and sujud. Praying at home is more virtuous when you can.
The whole earth is a place of prayer, so salah in a park, airport or office is valid. Delaying a prayer past its time because one is in public is not allowed. For women, praying in a secluded place is better, and the home is the most virtuous place of all.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said the whole earth was made a place of prayer and a means of purification for him, so wherever prayer time finds you, pray. The Quran says prayer is prescribed at fixed times. At the same time, he told women that their prayer in the inner part of their home is better than in the outer part, which shows that privacy is preferred for women when it is possible.
Tips for praying out and about:
- Look for a prayer room: many airports, universities, hospitals and malls in the UK, US and Canada have one.
- Fitting rooms and quiet corners: a fitting room is often clean and private. A corner behind a pillar or a parked car also works.
- Clothing: check that your back, ankles and wrists stay covered when you bow. An abaya or a light prayer garment in your bag helps. See praying in pants.
- The qiblah: use the qibla finder. If you cannot tell, try your best and the prayer is valid.
- Combining prayers: the Hanafi school does not allow combining two prayers in one time except at Arafah and Muzdalifah, so plan your outing around prayer times.
If people see you, that is not a problem; a calm, modest prayer is good dawah. For the method, see how women pray, and for travelling, shortening the prayer.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:103
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا ﴿١٠٣﴾
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
Prayer must be prayed in its time, even when out.
Sahih al-Bukhari 438
Sahih... جعلت لي الأرض مسجدا وطهورا ...
"The earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification."
Prayer is valid anywhere clean.
Sunan Abi Dawud 570
Grading to be checked... صلاة المرأة في بيتها أفضل من صلاتها في حجرتها ...
"A woman's prayer in her room is better than her prayer in the courtyard of her house."
Privacy is better for a woman's prayer where possible.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, places where prayer is disliked. Prayer is valid in any clean place, with dislike in a few named places such as on a road where people pass.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.